2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Professional evaluation

Chery has returned to the Australian market with a bang. With only one mannequin on sale the Chinese language model is already doing extra quantity than the likes of Jeep and Peugeot – established manufacturers with prolonged historical past Down Below.

The corporate is trying to construct on that additional by getting into what is probably Australia’s greatest and best new automobile section – the mainstream medium SUV class – with the 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Professional.

Enjoyable truth: The Australian-market Tiggo 7 Professional seems to be a model of the automobile generally known as the Tiggo 7 Professional Max in abroad markets like South Africa, with a extra premium cabin and extra upmarket options, in addition to the extra highly effective 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine over the lesser model’s 1.5T powertrain.

With sharp pricing, a prolonged normal gear listing, and a strong possession program on paper, the Tiggo 7 is right here to tackle every part from the Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5 to the Nissan Qashqai and Honda ZR-V. It straddles the small and medium SUV segments dimensionally considerably, and is priced within the thick of some scorching competitors.

Let’s not overlook Chery’s fellow Chinese language rivals, both. The GWM Haval H6 and MG HS are additionally vying for the same viewers, although Chery’s staff argue it’s probably the most premium feeling of the Chinese language manufacturers – if that’s what you’re after.

Australia is a key marketplace for Chery, with our area a testing mattress and one thing of a launch pad for the Tiggo 7 Professional past the borders of the Chinese language home market, with in depth native validation work executed to higher hone a few of the Tiggo 7 Professional’s help programs to Australian tastes.

Has it paid off? Properly, I received’t give all of it away so early on, however I’ll say that Chery has put in a strong, if not standout exhibiting.

How a lot does the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional price?

Costs begin from $39,990 drive-away for the entry-level Tiggo 7 Professional City, climbing to $45,990 D/A for the Final.

That aligns the City with one thing like a base Mazda CX-5 ($39,990 D/A based mostly on VIC postcode) regardless of even the entry-level Tiggo 7 Professional that includes the type of gear you anticipate on high-spec fashions approaching $60,000.

It begins a bit greater than its Chinese language-badged rivals, nevertheless. The GWM Haval H6 formally begins from $33,990 D/A (although it’s being marketed with hundreds off), whereas the MG HS may be had from as little as $32,990 D/A. That mentioned, you should spend as much as one of many greater variants to match the Tiggo 7 Professional’s spec ranges.

Chery additionally known as out established Korean options as key rivals. The Hyundai Tucson may be had from simply over $39,000 D/A based mostly on a Melbourne postcode, and similar goes for probably the most inexpensive Kia Sportage with an automated transmission – although each of those are far more primary in specification and have naturally aspirated petrol engines.

Chery Tiggo 7 Professional pricing:

• 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Professional City: $39,990
• 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Professional Elite: $41,990
• 2024 Chery Tiggo 7 Professional Final AWD: $45,990

Costs are drive-away

What’s the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional like on the within?

One space the place I really feel Chery has completely overwhelmed out GWM and MG is within the cabin, the place its presentation apes far costlier steel.

The Tiggo 7 Professional’s cabin design might have been lifted out of one thing like a Mercedes-Benz GLE, although then scaled down in measurement and with, let’s say, more cost effective parts subbed in to attain the worth level.

The higher sections of the dashboard and doorways additionally obtain a stitched-effect leather-like trim that once more seems to be very very similar to the grained leatherette trimmings supplied by luxurious manufacturers, although it’s not fairly as good – acceptable given the cash, all advised.

It undoubtedly has ‘wow’ issue. The twin 12.3-inch shows are properly built-in and nicely featured, with inbuilt satellite tv for pc navigation, an clever ‘Hey Chery’ voice assistant, in addition to wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all normal.

The shows themselves are good decision however the processing energy isn’t fairly a match. Often you’d discover it lags whereas loading packages and the refresh charge on the instrument cluster animations weren’t at all times as fast as you’ll discover in some rivals.

Additional, the inbuilt navigation app has a loading display screen labelled “turbodog” as we discovered throughout the launch drive, maybe a enjoyable title bestowed by software program engineers. It’s little issues like this these that with an added layer of polish might make Chery very aggressive with a few of the greatest.

That mentioned, the assorted views and menus for the digital cluster are fairly cool, together with a full map view with minimised dials, a dwell driver help feed that would have come out of a Tesla or BMW, in addition to a number of layouts that may be as standard or as new-age as you want. Bravo.

Wi-fi Apple CarPlay labored nicely as soon as we linked, although our restricted time with the automobile means we couldn’t gauge extra long-term usability and reliability. Identical goes for the clever (however not net-connected) voice assistant, activated by urgent the little cartoon circle with eyes or saying “Hey Chery”.

I attempted a few prompts like “open the sunroof” and “I’m chilly” which was met with an open sunroof and elevated local weather management temperature respectively, although saying “Hey Chery” didn’t at all times work.

Poke and prod round extra and you’ll actually really feel the Mercedes-Benz affect, proper all the way down to the window switches and starter button that look nearly similar to the Benz models. Even the speaker grilles seem like the Burmester covers utilized in varied Mercedes fashions, although with out the Burmester script and never fairly as metal-like in really feel.

There’s a complicated mixture of trim ornamentation as nicely, starting from shiny fake carbon-fibre on the dashboard, to a brushed-effect plastic on the centre console that’s making an attempt to seem like aluminium, in addition to textured black plastic on the doorways. Not fairly to my preferences, but it surely’s fascinating.

Total construct high quality feels fairly strong, although we did discover some small squeaks within the cabin in each the City and Final check vehicles pushed on the launch when negotiating offset surfaces like driveways or huge pothole gaps on the perimeters of nation roads.

The switchgear all has a clicky really feel to it like some luxurious manufacturers, and I actually love the appear and feel of the steering wheel. It a really clear and upmarket design with a high quality really feel to the rim and user-friendly switchgear – although the toggle-looking controls don’t transfer up and down such as you may initially anticipate.

Chery quotes 626L ‘minimal’ for the baggage capability, increasing to a most of 1672L. It’s not clear which measuring normal is used for these figures, although to my eye it seems the quantity is measured to the roof.

It additionally encompasses a full-size spare wheel beneath the boot flooring throughout the vary, one thing of an abnormality today.

What’s beneath the bonnet?

At launch, the Tiggo 7 Professional can be out there with a single powertrain possibility – a 1.6-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine.

Growing 137kW (5500rpm) and 275Nm (2000-4000rpm), the engine is teamed with a seven-speed dual-clutch automated transmission which drives the entrance wheels in City and Elite variations, or all 4 wheels within the top-spec Final.

Chery claims a 9.5-second 0-100km/h time for FWD fashions, and a slower 9.9 seconds for the AWD flagship. Quoted gas consumption is 7.0L/100km for the Tiggo 7 Professional FWD, and 7.8L/100km for the AWD – each figures are on the mixed ADR cycle. We noticed nearer to eight.5-9.0L/100km on our launch drive, which is fantastic however not superb.

The gas tank measures 51L in FWD fashions and 57L for the AWD, with 95 RON premium unleaded required at the least. It’s value noting the Tiggo 7 Professional’s turbo petrol engine is homologated to Euro-6b emissions requirements, regardless of most mainstream rivals choosing older Euro 5 requirements.

On the playing cards for Australia is the Tiggo 7 Professional e+ plug-in hybrid, which makes use of a three-gear Direct Hybrid Transmission (DHT) that includes three bodily gears and three engine working factors with an adjustable pace ratio.

Twin electrical motors, a motor controller and transmission are built-in with one another, and mated with a “hybrid-specific” 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine. There’s a 19.27kWh ternary lithium battery and complete system outputs of 240kW of energy and 545Nm of torque, with claimed electrical vary of 80km beneath China’s WLTC cycle.

How does the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional drive?

Our launch drive took us from close to Sydney Airport south to the Headlands, taking us by a wide range of driving environments together with highways and metropolis and suburban roads.

The on-road expertise is often the place Chinese language manufacturers are likely to stumble in comparison with extra established makes. The Tiggo 7 Professional places in a fairly strong exhibiting, if not fairly up there with the perfect in section.

Efficiency and refinement from the 1.6-litre turbo petrol motor is first rate. If pushed in a measured method the Tiggo 7 Professional will speed up comparatively easily if with the occasional hesitation on lift-off from that DCT.

I did word the Chery didn’t endure fairly as jumpy a primary gear ratio as I’ve skilled in different Chinese language vehicles with DCT’s, maybe a situation that’s extra tuned to home driving and visitors circumstances. I’d advise not utilizing the auto-hold perform, nevertheless, because it drones because it builds revs after which awkwardly slurs off the road, significantly on inclines.

In any other case, it’s a reasonably nice SUV to dwell with in on a regular basis driving round city. It will get alongside fantastic, rides fairly nicely even on the Final’s bigger 19-inch alloy wheels, and insulation from the skin world is noteworthy.

Whereas it’s not all that enormous regardless of its bluff proportions – at 4513mm lengthy and 1862mm huge it’s much like a CX-5 – the Tiggo 7 Professional seems like a bigger automobile due to its taller, boxy profile. It handles prefer it too.

The steering is gentle and at occasions a bit of imprecise, however that makes it a simple steer on the town and also you’re by no means urged to drive this factor tougher than you should. That mentioned, these in search of one thing a bit of extra participating for the day by day commute to work or the college run can be much better served by one thing like mentioned Mazda CX-5.

Outward visibility is nice because of the tall glasshouse and huge mirrors, and in the event you go for one of many greater grades you get a superb encompass digital camera with 3D view – aggressive with GWM Haval’s glorious parking cameras.

As we’ve seen with another Chinese language-branded merchandise, the Tiggo 7 Professional’s cameras will robotically activate as you sluggish to a cease approaching intersections. It’s useful in the event you’re navigating a decent area or hole, however in the event you’re meant to be a map or the tune that’s taking part in it may be annoying that the digital camera will get auto precedence.

Because the pace dials up, the Chery’s fundamentals are strong. That big-car really feel carries over to the settled journey at pace, which is confidence inspiring when travelling at 110km/h on the Hume, for instance. The drivetrain will get on top of things fantastic however generally is a little gruff in the event you push it too exhausting, although it’s fairly settled in its seventh ratio at a cruise.

We hit some twisties as we approached the Headlands, and the Tiggo 7 Professional was a bit of disjointed within the expertise right here. Whereas the chassis appeared able to altering route and stability was good, the at occasions sluggish steering was at odds with what was occurring beneath.

At occasions it felt just like the automobile would reply a second after enter, with nearly a slight delay in the way it utilized steering lock as you turned the wheel. The DCT additionally wasn’t significantly pleased with being pushed exhausting both. There aren’t any paddles however a guide mode by way of the e-shifter, which doesn’t present the identical expertise.

You may flick it into Sport mode to carry gears and prime the throttle for higher response, however that’s not likely what this automobile is about. Simply drive her properly – my scorching tip.

Chery copped a hiding for the calibration of the Omoda 5’s help programs to the purpose the place it needed to introduce operating modifications. Whereas it tried to keep away from this within the Tiggo 7 Professional with some 50,000km of validation testing in Australia previous to launch, there are nonetheless areas for enchancment.

The lane-keep help was principally fantastic, however the high-spec mannequin’s lane centring perform on the freeway appeared a bit of fast to yank the steering wheel off you as quickly because the traces curve otherwise you transfer barely off-course, although the over-correction may have you bouncing to the opposite aspect of the lane which is counter-intuitive.

Adaptive cruise management was principally fantastic till we encountered an extended hill at 110km/h on the best way again to Sydney, the place my fellow journalist driving skilled the Tiggo 7 unable to resolve whether or not it wished to remain in sixth or seventh. It could decelerate after which speed up after which repeat because it tried to keep up the set pace, and all of a sudden shadow braked regardless of no vehicles being immediately forward, too.

Lastly, the motive force consideration monitoring was frustratingly vocal, citing a “you’ve gotten been distracted” notification when it thought you had taken your eyes off the street – even when it was for a second – then flashing up a second “you’ve gotten been distracted for a very long time” with a louder bong. Some work to be executed, then.

What do you get?

Tiggo 7 Professional City highlights:

• Auto LED headlights
• Rain-sensing wipers
• 18-inch alloy wheels in Atlas tyres
• Full-size spare
• Tyre strain monitoring
• 3 drive modes (Eco, Sport, Regular)
• Keyless entry and begin
• Distant begin
• Digital parking brake with auto maintain
• Synthetic leather-based upholstery
• Synthetic leather-wrapped steering wheel
• 4-way steering wheel adjustment
• Heated entrance seats (cushion, backrest)
• 6-way energy driver’s seat
• 4-way energy passenger seat
• Twin-zone local weather management
• Panoramic sunroof
• 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system
• Wi-fi Apple CarPlay, Android Auto
• Satellite tv for pc navigation
• ‘Hey Chery’ voice assistant
• 8-speaker Sony sound system
• Wi-fi telephone charger
• Ambient lighting
• Entrance, rear USB shops incl. USB-C
• 2 x 12V shops (entrance, boot)

Tiggo 7 Professional Elite provides:

• Energy-folding exterior mirrors
• Energy tailgate
• Illuminated sill plates
• Air high quality administration system
  • Unfavorable ion air freshener
• Cargo blind
• Non-obligatory black roof
• Encompass-view cmaeras

Tiggo 7 Final provides:

• 19-inch alloy wheels
• Cooper tyres
• 6 drive modes (Eco, Sport, Regular, Snow, Mud, Off-road)
• Pink brake calipers, entrance
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror
• Energy driver’s seat incl. reminiscence
• Energy-folding exterior mirrors with reminiscence
• Ventilated entrance seats (cushion solely)

Is the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional secure?

The Chery Tiggo 7 Professional has but to be examined by ANCAP or Euro NCAP, although the corporate mentioned at launch that ANCAP testing was round 80 per cent executed, with a ranking hopefully to be launched earlier than the tip of 2023.

Normal security gear consists of:

• 8 airbags incl. front-centre, driver’s knee
• Autonomous emergency braking (AEB)
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Baby presence detection
• Driver monitoring system
• Ahead collision warning
• Built-in Cruise Help
  • Adaptive cruise management
  • Lane centring help
  • Site visitors jam help
• Clever Headlamp Management
• Lane departure warning
• Lane hold help
• Parking sensors entrance, rear
• Rear cross-traffic help
• Secure exit warning
• Velocity restrict help
• Site visitors signal recognition

Tiggo 7 Professional Elite provides:

How a lot does the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional price to run?

The Tiggo 7 Professional is backed by a seven-year, unlimited-kilometre guarantee, with seven years of capped-price servicing and 7 years of roadside help.

Autos bought and delivered between 1 November and 30 November 2023 will obtain complimentary scheduled servicing for the primary three years or 45,000 kilometres, as marketed on the corporate’s web site.

Chery has additionally detailed service pricing for the primary seven years, with slight variations between FWD and AWD fashions. Intervals are 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first.

Chery Tiggo 7 service pricing:

City + Elite 1.6T FWD

• A Service (12mth/15,000km): $280
• B Service (24mth/30,0000km): $280
• C Service (36mth/45,000km): $280
• D Service (48mth/60,000km): $280
• E Service (60mth/75,000km): $280
• F Service (72mth/90,000km): $367.94
• G Service (84mth/105,000km): $287.84

Final 1.6T AWD

• A Service (12mth/15,000km): $280
• B Service (24mth/30,0000km): $280
• C Service (36mth/45,000km): $280
• D Service (48mth/60,000km): $280
• E Service (60mth/75,000km): $280
• F Service (72mth/90,000km): $515.60
• G Service (84mth/105,000km): $287.84

CarExpert’s Tackle the Chery Tiggo 7 Professional

Chery desires to be thought of the ‘most premium’ of the Chinese language manufacturers, and whereas its design and presentation largely lives as much as this, the Tiggo 7 Professional has some work to do towards extremely stiff competitors.

Whereas it traces up nicely towards one thing like a GWM Haval H6 or MG HS, the Chery nonetheless can’t match the all-round talents and refinement of section leaders just like the CX-5, RAV4, Sportage and Tucson.

Sure it’s extremely nicely specified, sure it has fairly luxe presentation – particularly in comparison with the Haval and MG – however the expertise integration, drive expertise and drivetrain calibration nonetheless present Chery has a bit to go earlier than it may be thought of in the identical dialog because the above fan favourites.

Worth is a recurring theme right here, and for $40,000 on the street the entry-level Tiggo 7 Professional makes a convincing proposition towards a bog-standard Mazda or Kia, at the very least on paper. The lengthy guarantee and capped-price service protection additionally put the Chinese language model according to Kia’s benchmark possession program, and there’s free servicing for 3 years up for grabs in the event you purchase earlier than yr’s finish.

At that worth level nevertheless, it’s nicely above the entry pricing of its fellow Chinese language rivals, and my standard line of recommendation is that these value- or price-led manufacturers are greatest served within the low- or mid- vary, the place a few of their quirks and compromises are offset by a significant worth saving.

The Chery doesn’t fairly supply the identical stage of financial savings till you have a look at the top-end Final which is about $15,000 lower than an equal Japanese or Korean flagship, although mid-spec rivals today supply a lot of the identical good things save for some additional niceties. It’s additionally value noting the segment-straddling Honda ZR-V, Nissan Qashqai and Skoda Karoq may also be had for related coin – all of which I’d contemplate superior automobiles.

However credit score the place credit score is due – it’s very clear that Chery has its head within the recreation, and is dedicated to localising its merchandise and making enhancements. The Tiggo 7 Professional is first rate, if not fairly a standout, and I anticipate issues to proceed getting higher from right here.

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